Stocks Turn Mixed; Universal Health Hits New High

Stocks were trying to go positive late Monday afternoon after spending most of the day in the red.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq dipped a fraction. All three had been down about about 0.5% before recovering. Volume was tracking higher across the board in the stock market today.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) jumped 4% to a new high in heavy volume after Barclays boosted its price target on the stock to 121 from 95 amid an improved economy and bigger-than-expected benefits from the Affordable Care Act.

TysonFoods (NYSE:TSN) was up 2% in strong trade after the meat processor posted better-than-expected quarterly sales and said it would sell its Brazil and Mexico poultry operations to JBS, the majority owner of Pilgrim's Pride (NASDAQ:PPC).

Tyson was up as much as 6% before pulling back. The stock has retaken its 10-week line as it works on a consolidation. Pilgrim's Pride fell 1%.

El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) soared 27% in its second session as a publicly traded company. The fast-food chain, known for its fire-grilled chicken, raised a little more than $107 million in its public offering. Shares surged 60% Friday.

On the downside, Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ:CALM), the nation's largest egg producer, sank 4%, paring an earlier 10% loss, after reporting a better-than-expected 136% jump in profit for the latest quarter. Revenue rose 14% to $372 million. The stock found support at the 50-day moving average.

Stocks were trying to go positive late Monday afternoon after spending most of the day in the red.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq dipped a fraction. All three had been down about about 0.5% before recovering. Volume was tracking higher across the board in the stock market today.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) jumped 4% to a new high in heavy volume after Barclays boosted its price target on the stock to 121 from 95 amid an improved economy and bigger-than-expected benefits from the Affordable Care Act.

TysonFoods (NYSE:TSN) was up 2% in strong trade after the meat processor posted better-than-expected quarterly sales and said it would sell its Brazil and Mexico poultry operations to JBS, the majority owner of Pilgrim's Pride (NASDAQ:PPC).

Tyson was up as much as 6% before pulling back. The stock has retaken its 10-week line as it works on a consolidation. Pilgrim's Pride fell 1%.

El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ:LOCO) soared 27% in its second session as a publicly traded company. The fast-food chain, known for its fire-grilled chicken, raised a little more than $107 million in its public offering. Shares surged 60% Friday.

On the downside, Cal-Maine Foods (NASDAQ:CALM), the nation's largest egg producer, sank 4%, paring an earlier 10% loss, after reporting a better-than-expected 136% jump in profit for the latest quarter. Revenue rose 14% to $372 million. The stock found support at the 50-day moving average.

See Also

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Stocks rambled ahead Monday, with the Nasdaq crossing the 5000 mark for the first time since March 2000. The Nasdaq popped 0.9% to close just over 5008. The Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 added 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Volume was slightly lower on the Nasdaq and modestly higher on ...

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Stocks were broadly higher Monday in late afternoon trading. The Nasdaq retreated slightly after touching 5000 but was still up 0.6%. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 0.6% to a new all-time high, while the S&P 500 added 0.3%. Volume was tracking heavier across the board in the stock ...

Stocks pared their gains in early-afternoon trading as blue chips took the lead. The Nasdaq was back below 5000 after cutting its gain to 0.5% and the S&P 500 to 0.3%. The Dow Jones industrial average extended its advance to 0.6%, as Disney (NYSE:DIS) and Visa (NYSE:V) marked new record highs. ...

03/02/2015 01:56 PM ET

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